If You Have to Ask

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“If You Have to Ask”
“If You Have to Ask” cover
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Released 1993
Format CD
Recorded May - June 1991 at The Mansion in Los Angeles, California
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:37
Label Warner Bros. Records
Producer Rick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"Behind the Sun"
(1993)
"If You Have to Ask"
(1993)
"Soul to Squeeze"
(1993)

"If You Have to Ask" is the second song on the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. In 1993 it became the fifth and final single released from that album, complete with an accompanying music video which features Arik Marshall, who acted as a brief replacement for guitarist John Frusciante following his departure from the band. The video merely consists of live footage of the band performing the song, overdubbed with the original album track.

At the end of the song, after John Frusciante plays his solo, the production crew and band can be heard applauding Frusciante. No attempts were made to re-record the song without the applause or edit it out; as with all of the unintended sounds on the album, it was decided that they added to the music.

[edit] Track list

CD single (1993)

  1. "If You Have to Ask (Edit)"
  2. "If You Have to Ask (Disco Krisco Mix)"
  3. "If You Have to Ask (Scott And Garth Mix)"
  4. "Give It Away (In Progress From Funky Monks Video)"

12" single (1993)

  1. "If You Have to Ask (Disco Krisco Mix)"
  2. "If You Have to Ask (Album)"
  3. "If You Have to Ask (Friday Night Fever Blister Mix)"
  4. "Give It Away (In Progress From Funky Monks Video)"